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For those nights when you get home hungry, stressed, and impatient, Hangry is here to help. Each Monday, Kendra Vaculin will share quick, exciting meals that anyone can make -- whether you're in your first apartment or feeding a hangry family.

When I go out to dinner with my friends I sometimes ask them, “What is it that your body needs you to feed it right now?” What I mean is, “What do you want to eat?” but I’m being as ethereal earth mother clown about it as possible. This is me being the most annoying version of myself. And I am mostly kidding. But there is a part of me that thinks it’s a reasonable question.

I always want curry -- I am never going to actively refuse curry -- but sometimes it isn’t what my body needs; fulfilling the need rather than the want takes you to a totally different level of dinner nirvana, to dinner enlightenment. Dinner Buddha is there, and he’s like, “Aren’t you glad you didn’t get Thai takeout?” And you’re glowing and full and and floating in the air and you’re like yes, Buddha, yes. You know what I mean if you’ve been there. Or maybe you hate this whole conversation and are like, “Go back to drinking cold brew out of a mason jar and contemplating where to hang your new tapestry, ya freak,” which, okay, that’s hostile, but I get it.

My body has recently only been needing cold fruit, creamy cheese, fresh herbs, and salt. Somehow this combination is the perfect antidote to a humid day, indulgent and light at the same time, and the easiest possible thing to throw together. So make fun of my stomach contemplation and decorative wall hangings all you please; I’ll be up here floating in dinner nirvana with my feta and my cantaloupe when you’re ready to get fed.

I developed a similar salad a few years ago. I've riffed on different melons/fruits and found watermelon & pineapple are nice variations. After trying half doz herbs, cilantro (surprisingly bc it's not my favorite) gave salad a great lift & pulled flavors together. Last, I have my cukes & melons, which helps flavors mix & looks nice on a plate.